D2.59 - Assessment of quality of life in a population of children with allergic rhinitis

In recent years, allergic diseases have become a global problem worldwide. There is a growing incidence of allergic diseases, including an increase in the incidence of allergic rhinitis.

The aim of our work was to assess the quality of life in a population of children suffering from allergic rhinitis. We observed 3289 patients with allergic rhinitis aged 3 to 17 years, whose referrals over the past 5 years were to our selected outpatient clinics or polyclinics. (Name of clinics) Outpatient department of the clinic. The inclusion criteria in the study were:We studied the allergic anamnesis using a special questionnaire, the diagnosis was established on the basis of clinical signs, and allergic markers - the number of eosinophils in nasal lavage (determination of eosinophils in nasal wash) and IgE in blood serum were determined by the ELISA method.Nasal (sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, nasal itching and obstruction) and non-nasal symptoms (eye (itching), throat and ear symptoms, headache, cough) were rated on a scale of 1-7 (1 score - no symptoms or rare, 7 points - severe).The quality of life was also assessed, in particular, night sleep and its disturbance and daily activity and its change in relation to the disease. These signs were also rated on a scale of 1-7 (1 point - severe disturbance, 7 - no change).According to the anamnesis data, it was determined that 57% of patients had a genetic predisposition to allergies, 34% had allergic reactions to various food and aeroallergens.The results of the study showed that rhinorrhea was expressed in 82%, sneezing in 68%, nasal obstruction in 74%, nasal itching in 42%, and conjunctivitis (42%) and throat itching (31%) prevailed among non-nasal symptoms.An increase in the number of eosinophils was found in all patients in nasal lavage. Eosinophilia in peripheral blood was observed in only 37% of cases. IgE hyperproduction was expressed in 74%. There was a correlation between the severity of the disease and eosinophilia in nasal lavage.

The study found that the most bothersome symptom was nasal obstruction, which was the main cause of not only sleep but also daily activity disruption. The more pronounced the clinical symptoms, the more the quality of life was reduced.Patients were treated for 2-3 weeks according to the protocol. Against the background of the treatment, nasal discharge and nasal itching resolved in 3-5 days, rhinorrhea in 5-7 days, nasal blockage in 7-10 days, and smell was restored from 10-12 days of treatment. Along with the improvement of symptoms, the quality of life also improved, 96% of patients' quality of life returned to normal after treatment, only 4% had a decrease in smell and nighttime sleep disturbance.

From this study, we can conclude that the severity of symptoms correlated with impaired quality of life, and with adequate treatment, patients returned to their usual rhythm of life.